Incentivizing university students to quit smoking: a randomized controlled trial of a contingency management intervention in a developing country. (2nd January 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hofmeyr, Andre; Kincaid, Harold; Rusch, Olivia
• Is Part Of: American journal of drug and alcohol abuse. Volume 46:Number 1(2020:Jan.)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 119
• Publication Date: 2020-01-02
• Subjects: Tobacco -- smoking -- cessation -- contingency management -- treatment -- incentives -- developing country -- tobacco; Drug abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Substance-abuse -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Alcoholism -- Periodicals; Substance-Related Disorders -- Periodicals; 616.86
• DOI: 10.1080/00952990.2019.1622130
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0095-2990

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : Contingency management (CM) is an empirically supported behavioral treatment for tobacco use, but its efficacy with university student smokers in a developing country is unknown. Objectives : We evaluate a randomized controlled trial of a CM smoking cessation program conducted on a sample of treatment-seeking student smokers at the University of Cape Town. Methods : The study included a recruitment period, a 6-week intervention period, and a 6-month follow-up period. Subjects in the control group ( information and monitoring; n = 47, 76% male) were given information to help them quit smoking and had their quit attempt monitored, receiving R50 ($8) at each assessment. Subjects in the treatment group ( information and monitoring, plus CM; n = 40, 80% male) could additionally earn R150 ($24) in abstinence-contingent incentives at each assessment. Outcome variables: 7-day point-prevalence abstinence at 6 months and at the end of the intervention period, and a repeated measure of smoking intensity of non-abstinent subjects. Results : CM had no long-term effect on abstinence at 6 months but had a marked and statistically significant effect on the likelihood of abstinence by the end of the intervention period ( p < .001). In addition, while CM did not affect smoking intensity, participation in the program decreased the average number of cigarettes smoked per day by non-abstainers ( p < .001). Conclusions : The CM program was efficacious in promoting abstinence amongst treatment-seeking university students in a developing country but only while incentives were in place. Future research should focus on promoting continuous abstinence with this target sample.